Emulation, according to Google, is the reproduction of the function or action of a different computer, software system, etc. Virtualization seeded the idea of emulation and the process of mimicking the interface of one platform on the other.
As we all know Android is one of the most popular operating system around the globe. And, Bluestacks takes the feat of being the most popular Android emulator as well. However, Bluestacks, due to its resource-hungry-nature, can be sluggish at times. So, it is natural for you to seek a good alternative to it. Here in this article, you will get a few Bluestacks alternatives for Windows and Mac. I have handpicked a few best alternatives to Bluestacks app player here. You can go through their features and choose the one that suits you the best.
Bluestacks Alternatives: 5 Similar Android Emulators For PC & Mac
1. Andryroid
Andy Android Emulator aka Andryroid is available for free to download on Mac and Windows. The best thing about it is the developers ensure it always runs on the latest Android version. Unlike Bluestacks, you can access full operating system UI here. No matter you own both Mac and Windows machine, Andyroid can serve you whenever you want.
Bluestack Alternative – Anydroid
You can now install any of your favorite Android apps on your computer using Andy Emulator. The app syncing capability helps you continue what you left off on the mobile. Google Play Store is available on this top Bluestacks alternative. If you think an Android game looks better on your computer screen than on the small smartphone display, you can do it via Andy and even use your phone as the controller. It is possible for you to integrate your microphone and camera to your computer, get desktop push notifications, and even save files in Android via cloud. Do you want a sturdy Bluestacks alternative that offers some exclusive features and helps you access the complete Android interface? If you do, Andyroid comes in handy for you.
2. Console OS
As the name indicates, Console is not just a Bluestacks alternative, but a fully purposed operating system. You can run a functional Android platform on your computer. For the same reason, it is impossible to launch Console OS inside Windows (unless you opt for Virtual Box). What you can do is using it alongside the existing operating system.
Console OS – Bluestack Alternative Emulator
In fact, Console OS is a Linux distribution that comes with multiple handy features. The installation of it doesn’t take more than five minutes. However, you have to compare the specifications of your system with its requirements given Console OS lacks support for AMD and NVIDIA processors. Console OS is perhaps the best Android OS for PC. You can run two apps side-by-side on it (a stock Nougat feature, though). You can install and use Console OS for free of cost. OpenGL ES 3.1 on Console enables you for high-end gaming and CPU GPU intensive processes. Despite all the features, Console OS possesses an impressive boot time.
3. YouWave
Not everybody likes leaving their existing operating system for the sake of running Android applications. If you are one of them, YouWave suits you the best. It is available for Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about the architecture of your machine as well (it supports both 32-bit and 64-bit machine architecture).
Youwave emulator
The main disadvantage you might notice at the first glance is the lack of Play Store. In case it seems significant, you can always sideload it. When it comes to installing third-party apps, you have to place the APK files into the YouWave folder. YouWave runs on top of Virtual Box and it is mandatory for you to uninstall the same before you proceed to installing the emulator. Your computer should have at least 2 GB of RAM and 500 MB free space. YouWave can be run even on an Intel Pentium processor without any stutter. When you do the same with Bluestacks, the machine starts hanging. That’s why YouWave qualifies as one of the best Bluestacks alternatives.
4. GenyMotion
GenyMotion is the next in our list of best alternatives to Bluestacks emulator. It was designed for the developers to test their apps in a safer environment. Nonetheless, many people now use it as a platform to run Android apps on Windows. The best thing about GenyMotion is the availability of different Android versions. You can choose from 2.3 Gingerbread to 7 Nougat. Owing to the fact that it relies on OpenGL 2.0 technology, you might not get any trouble in running intensive tasks simultaneously on your computer.
GenyMotion Android Emulator
You can allot RAM and storage quota for GenyMotion just like you do with Virtual Box. Once you install it, you will be provided with a list of devices, from which you can choose one to create its virtual environment on your computer. The requirements are on the higher side of the spectrum. You must need at least 4 GB RAM, 8 GB free space, Intel Core i3 or higher and at least Windows 7 64-bit version.
5. MEmu Android Emulator
One of the main reason people look for a Bluestacks alternative is the sluggish performance. Bluestacks is a resource-hungry emulator, which doesn’t create much of an appeal to a computer user with low configuration. MEmu, on the other hand, doesn’t draw many resources and even comes with a lot of inbuilt features Bluestacks lacks.
Memu Android Player
MEmu has only Lollipop and Kitkat. Still, it performs a lot better than your mobile phone. It supports both Intel and AMD processors. For a smooth functioning of the emulator, you need to have at least 2 GB RAM and 2 GB free space. You can download MEmu emulator for Windows 7/8/8.1 and 10.
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Wrapping Up,
Of course, the list hasn’t been ended here. You can find many other Bluestacks alternatives emulators for PC on the web. Nevertheless, I shared a list of top of five of them. If you used any emulator given in the above list, don’t forget to share your experience with us in the comment section down below.
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